Female Farmers Settlement Update 11

On October 24, 2013, the Court issued a minute order granting the USDA’s Unopposed Motion for a Briefing Schedule.

Essentially, the order restarts the case, which was stayed due to the government shutdown, and sets deadlines to respond to the motion for attorneys’ fees.

The order states:

Upon consideration of the USDA’s Unopposed Motion for a Briefing Schedule, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion is GRANTED and the stay previously imposed in this case due to the lapse in appropriations is LIFTED. It is further ORDERED that briefing on the plaintiffs’ motion for attorneys’ fees shall proceed as follows: the defendant shall file its response to the plaintiffs’ motion for fees with respect solely to whether the plaintiffs are eligible for attorneys’ fees, costs, and/or expenses, on or before November 20, 2013; and the plaintiffs shall file a reply with respect to this issue on or before December 20, 2013. If the Court determines that the plaintiffs are eligible for an award of attorneys’ fees, costs, and/or expenses, the parties will propose a schedule for briefing on the issue of the amount to which the plaintiffs are entitled. Signed by Judge Reggie B. Walton on October 24, 2013